Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Day 11: Breathe, Seek, Play....Exhale

Exhale....more like it.  Tomorrow the boys are presenting a Wax Museum Performance.  They have had a few days to research a famous American, write a narrative, and type up a book report complete with cover page and bibliography.  Yes, this is third grade.  The final project is to recite a one minute speech about the famous person you chose.  Cooper chose Thomas Jefferson and Elliott choose Paul Revere....and we are so fortunate that many of our Halloween costumes have been historical figures so we were one step ahead.  We also had a ton of books for them to find more information and we watched education videos on youtube on each of them.  Tomorrow is the big day and they will have a "button" that someone can push and they will have to recite their speech.  For Elliott this will be huge, his anxiety about standing up and speaking is through the roof. I reminded him to just take a deep breath and read slowly and clearly.  I told him about what I felt the first time I had to speak in front of class...face flushed, voice shaking and how after I started reading my paper those feelings go away.  It is nerve wracking for most to speak in public , but for Elliott it is that times a "gazillion".  For him to get into character is easy but to allow his friends to see him get into character may be another.  He has no trouble getting into costume and into character at Williamsburg.  He and Cooper will get into costume and become one with any historical reenactment.  They will recreate a reenactment with their Playmobil and are so excited to learn about history.  This school project is going to be an awesome opportunity for him to get out of his comfort zone.  I think it is a fantastic way for the kids to learn about history in a fun and creative way.  It was a fun project to work on with both the boys...I came up with a Hip Hop into History for Elliott's project..I gave him a verse and asked him what did he think.  At first he thought I was crazy, but then he said he liked it and he wanted to do more.  In the end we came up with A Hip Hop into History of Paul Revere.  Cooper debated on reciting part of the Declaration of Independence but after hearing Elliott's Rap, he decided to get in on the "rap thing".  In the end they didn't "rap" it out but said reading it was more their style.  I think they did a phenomenal job.  School projects can be hair pulling, whine inducing, head banging into the wall events for our family.  This one had moments of all three, but in the end it's a bonding experience for us all, and to see the kids light up when they are learning and when they see the final result of all their hard work...it's beyond amazing.  We are at the finish line, and all the hard work is complete, the fun Wax Museum of History will be their moment to "exhale" for a job well done!   I thought of how this all tied in with our Lent theme.  Sometimes, we are giving things or project in life that are challenges, sometimes we work hard, we get into character, we have to step outside of our comfort zone, we struggle, we do our best...and the most important part is to remember to breathe.  Whether or not it is the breath we take or the breath that we make, something as simple as taking a breath, has the power to make everything feel okay.


And for those of you that would love to read the Hip Hop into History on Paul Revere and Thomas Jefferson....I proudly will share my boys hard work and creativity..who knows maybe they will create an entire series of Raps like School House Rock, and make learning fun!


Hip Hop into History Rap on Thomas Jefferson
By:  Cooper Kleckner

I’m Thomas Jefferson
You may have heard about me.
But I’ll tell you some facts
On how I made history.

I loved playing  the violin
And made lots of inventions
Graduated from William and Mary
loved reading and comprehension.

During the Revolution
Our country needed my brilliance,
So I drafted now very famous words,
Known as the Declaration of Independence.

It took me 17 days,
I wrote both day and night,
About the “pursuit of happiness”
And “unalienable rights”.

I’m Thomas Jefferson
And many years ago,
I built a house called “little mountain”
Which is known as Monticello.

I became our Third President
And much of my success,
Was the greatest land deal
Called the Louisiana Purchase.

I’m Thomas Jefferson
I left quite a legacy,
As a founding father of our country
One of the greatest leaders in history.


My Hip Hop Into History Rap about Paul Revere
By Elliott Kleckner

I’m Paul Revere
And I’m really quite famous
If it wasn’t for me
We might be speaking British.

It started in Massachusetts
Over the taxation of tea
So I got a group of boys
And threw a Boston Tea Party.

I’m Paul Revere
And if it wasn’t for me
The minutemen wouldn’t know
The Brits were coming by land or by sea.

April 18, 1775
I made it perfectly clear,
I didn’t say the British were coming,
I said the Regulars were here!

The ride was at midnight
It wasn’t a bother
I helped to save the life
Of a founding father.     
Samuel Adams

My shout was heard all over
Without even my presence,
It also saved the life
of someone who signed the Declaration of Independence.  
 John Hancok

I hope you learned something
And my message was clear
I am a United States Patriot
Paul Revere!

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